Tony Labrusca Explained

Tony Labrusca
Birth Name:Anthony Angel Labrusca Jr.
Birth Date:7 August 1995
Birth Place:Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height:1.80 m
Years Active:2016–present
Agent:Star Magic (2016–present)

Anthony Angel Labrusca Jr. (in Tagalog pronounced as /lɐˈbɾʊska/; born August 7, 1995) is an American[1] actor, model, and singer based in the Philippines. Labrusca first gained his popularity via a McDonald's Philippines TV ad in 2016, Tuloy Pa Rin.

In 2016, he joined the Philippine reality search Pinoy Boyband Superstar but did not make the cut to be part of the band. He was part of horror-fantasy drama series La Luna Sangre.[2] [3] [4] The trailer of his latest film Glorious reached more than 5 million views on its first day of release.[5]

Early life

Labrusca was born on August 7, 1995, in Houston, Texas, in the United States.[6] He is the son of Filipino actor Boom Labrusca and Filipina singer Angel Jones. He grew up in Los Angeles, California with his mother, step father (Boom Dayupay) and sister. When he was 9, his family moved to Vancouver, Canada. He then flew to the Philippines to pursue his career in show business.

Career

Before Labrusca auditioned for Pinoy Boyband Superstar, he was already a face of various TV commercials. He became more popular when he played the guy who broke a girl's heart (Elisse Joson) in the viral McDonald's TV ad entitled Tuloy Pa Rin in 2016.

During his audition in Pinoy Boyband Superstar, he was unexpectedly reunited with his biological father, model and actor Boom Labrusca. He successfully became one of the top contenders and went up to the Top 7 for the grand finals. Unfortunately, he did not make it to the Top 5 as the final member of BoybandPH.

He made his acting debut in 2017 via TV5's Wattpad Presents with Louise delos Reyes. Later, he joined La Luna Sangre considered as his first break playing the role of Jake Arguelles. His character was set to become a third person in the love triangle between him, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.

In June 2020, Labrusca starred in the hit Filipino BL series, Hello Stranger (web series), along with his leading man JC Alcantara. The series proved popular even among international fans, which led to the Hello Stranger film in 2021. A second season is expected to be released soon. In 2023, he played the main antagonist Lucas Buencamino in Nag-aapoy na Damdamin.

Controversies

On January 3, 2019, shortly after landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Labrusca allegedly yelled curses at Bureau of Immigration officers after they stamped his passport for a 30-day stay only (the maximum visa-free stay in the Philippines for US passport holders). Labrusca was using his American passport at that time and had no work visa. However, he mistakenly believed that he was covered by the Balikbayan Programs one-year visa-free stay.[7] [8] A spokesperson of the Bureau of Immigration explained that the Balikbayan Program "is for former Filipinos and their immediate family members who are traveling with them. If these family members are not traveling with them, then they are not qualified." Labrusca was not accompanied by an immediate family member at that time.[9] Labrusca was widely criticized for the incident, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. suggested his deportation.[10] The following day, Labrusca apologized to the immigration officers and admitted that he did not know the full details of the Balikbayan Program, but maintained that he did not curse or shout at any officer.[11]

In June 2021, Labrusca was charged with alleged acts of lasciviousness and slight physical injuries for an incident that happened 5 months before, on the night of January 16, 2021, where allegedly, a drunk Labrusca unstrapped a woman's top to expose her breasts before forcefully pulling her to sit on his lap. He also allegedly choked a man on that same night.[12] [13] In July, the physical injuries case was dismissed by the Makati prosecutor's office since the complaint was filed "more than two months from the date of its alleged commission, the crime is already extinguished by reason of prescription."[14] In March 2022, the acts of lasciviousness case was dismissed citing no probable cause.[15]

Filmography

Television / Digital series

Year Title Role
2016–present ASAP Natin 'To Himself / Performer
2016–2017 Pinoy Boyband Superstar Himself
2017 Wattpad Presents: I'm Making Out with the Payboy at School Damon Lawrence
2017–2018 La Luna Sangre Jake Arguelles
2019 Sino ang May Sala? Andrei Joseph "Drei" Montelibano
Ipaglaban Mo: Saltik Jerome
Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 3: The Real Untold Story of Josephine Bracken
2020 24/7 Xavier Agbayani
I Am U Kyle
Hello Stranger Xavier De Guzman
2020–2021 Bagong Umaga Raphael "Ely" Florentino / Raphael "Ely" Ponce
2021 Click, Like, Share

Altered[16]

Homer
2023–2024 Nag-aapoy na Damdamin Lucas Buencamino

Film

Year Title Role
2017 Loving in Tandem Vince
2018 Glorious Niko
ML Carlo
Double Twisting Double Back Bradley
2019 The Mall, The MerrierGardo
Ang Henerasyong Sumuko Sa LoveKurt Adam Agapito
2020 U-Turn Robin
Love Lockdown Darren
Hindi Tayo Pwede Gabriel F. Del Rosario
2021 Hello, Stranger: The Movie Xavier De Guzman

Awards and nominations

YearFilm awards/criticsAwardNominated workResult
2017 PMPC Star Awards for TVBest New Male TV PersonalityLa Luna Sangre
2018MOR Pinoy Music AwardsMOR Best New Artist Tanging Ikaw
2018Cinema One Originals Film FestivalBest ActorDouble Twisting Double Back
2018LionhearTV RAWR AwardsBreakthrough Artist of the Year

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Tony Labrusca itinangging 'pinagmayabang' ang pagiging artista sa Immigration . March 24, 2022 . ABS-CBN News . January 5, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200126011325/https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/01/05/19/tony-labrusca-itinagging-pinagmayabang-ang-pagiging-artista-sa-immigration . January 26, 2020 . fil . Si Labrusca ay isang US citizen na may American passport.
  2. Web site: 5 Things You Need to Know about La Luna Sangre's Tony Labrusca. Kristhoff. Cagape. Push. January 5, 2021.
  3. Web site: Hottie Alert: Tony Labrusca, The 'La Luna Sangre' Actor Who Trended Recently Is Definitely A Looker. lifestyle.abs-cbn.com. January 5, 2021.
  4. Web site: Tony Labrusca "Completely Appalled" To Cyber Bullying Of KathNiel Fans. July 10, 2017. Philippine News. January 5, 2021.
  5. News: WATCH: Tony Labrusca, Angel Aquino face challenges of May–December romance in steamy trailer. https://web.archive.org/web/20181105202447/http://cnnphilippines.com/entertainment/2018/11/05/Tony-Labrusca-Angel-Aquino-Glorious-movie-trailer.html. dead. November 5, 2018. CNN Philippines. November 5, 2018.
  6. News: Who is Tony Labrusca, the internet's latest obsession? . June 6, 2021 . Rappler . November 7, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201001160756if_/https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/things-to-know-about-tony-labrusca . October 1, 2020.
  7. Web site: Tony Labrusca under fire for allegedly cursing at immigration officers. Jan Milo. Severo. The Philippine Star. January 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210524234212/https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2019/01/04/1882299/tony-labrusca-under-fire-allegedly-cursing-immigration-officers . May 24, 2021.
  8. News: Buan . Lian . Tony Labrusca prompts immigration warning on limits of Balikbayan privilege . June 6, 2021 . Rappler . January 4, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210524234217/https://www.rappler.com/nation/bureau-immigration-limits-balikbayan-privilege-after-tony-labrusca-incident . May 24, 2021.
  9. News: Macairan . Evelyn . Bureau of Immigration warns Tony Labrusca after making a scene at NAIA . June 6, 2021 . The Philippine Star . January 4, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190208062717/https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/01/05/1882372/bureau-immigration-warns-tony-labrusca-after-making-scene-naia . February 8, 2019.
  10. News: Cepeda . Cody . Tony Labrusca chided by Lolit Solis for his NAIA outburst: 'Sa bayan niya, sino ba siya?' . June 6, 2021 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . January 7, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190203001416/https://entertainment.inquirer.net/312566/tony-labrusca-chided-by-lolit-solis-for-his-naia-outburst-sa-bayan-niya-sino-ba-siya . February 3, 2019.
  11. News: Tony Labrusca apologizes to immigration officer over airport incident . June 6, 2021 . Rappler . January 4, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201107235024if_/https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/tony-labrusca-apology-immigration-officer-naia-incident . November 7, 2020.
  12. News: Actor Tony Labrusca charged with acts of lasciviousness, slight physical injuries . June 6, 2021 . CNN Philippines . June 4, 2021 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210606082115/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/entertainment/2021/6/4/Tony-Labrusca-alleged-molesting.html . June 6, 2021.
  13. News: Biong . Ian . Tony Labrusca facing charges for allegedly molesting woman, choking man . June 6, 2021 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . June 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210604100927/https://entertainment.inquirer.net/412236/tony-labrusca-to-face-charges-for-allegedly-molesting-woman-choking-man . June 4, 2021.
  14. News: Severo . Jan Milo . Tony Labrusca physical injuries case dismissed . March 24, 2022 . The Philippine Star . July 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210715080845/https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2021/07/14/2112464/tony-labrusca-physical-injuries-case-dismissed . July 15, 2021.
  15. News: Cruz . Dana . Tony Labrusca cleared of lasciviousness, lawyers confirm . March 24, 2022 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . March 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220320053504/https://entertainment.inquirer.net/441787/tony-labrusca-cleared-in-acts-of-lasciviousness-case-lawyers-confirm . March 20, 2022.
  16. Web site: Maymay, Tony, Barbie, Jerome and Janella's social media nightmare becomes reality in 'Click, Like, Share'. 27 August 2021. Manila Bulletin. 7 January 2022.